The ministry of Women?s rights is going through tough times. Two issues that really bring into question the subject of women?s rights are back in the public eye. On the one hand, the debate on the legalisation of abortion. On the other, the case of a man who killed his wife after having assaulted her many times because he could not accept her decision to leave him.

Sandhya Bappoo, 30 years old, died of septicemia following multiple body injuries during the weekend. Her husband, Ravindranath Bappoo, stabbed her two weeks ago. She had asked for a divorce and had gone back to her parents? home but the violent Ravindranath could not accept it. She was also under a Court protection order since September 2003 when he had beaten her up after she announced she was starting divorce proceedings.

The ministry seems to realize how difficult it is to apply the law protecting women against domestic violence. It recently launched a guide to help doctors identify signs of domestic violence in women and children and how to deal with it. A laudable initiative when such dramatic events occur. But the irony is that the document was published just after a woman was assaulted despite a protection order against her husband.

Pro-choice vs pro-life

The other issue that has triggered sharp protests is the possible introduction of a bill to legalise abortion. Feminist associations and anti-abortion groups have gone public and clashed. Both have kept their stands: on the one hand, women?s freedom to decide is advocated; on the other, respect for life is the key word. The issue thus seems at a dead end.

Cardinal Jean Margéot, an ardent anti-abortion militant and defender of life, has come to the Intercultural Committee?s rescue to defend life for every human being. ?It has been proved over the years that an embryo is already a human being.?

Rada Gungaloo, president of the Pro-Choice Movement, believes for her part that the government should legalise abortion as a sign of respect for human rights, ?especially women?s rights to autonomy, equality, health and reproduction.? Although abortion must in no way be considered as a common means of contraception, women should be able to use it a last resort, according to Rada Gungaloo.

For the Cardinal, however, not only must abortion remain illegal in the name of ?natural morality? but this action brings ?traumatisms and irreparable wounds for many women.?

But the president of the Pro-choice Movement disagrees. For her, the fact that abortion remains illegal is even more traumatic and dangerous for women. Actually, though it is illegal, women still go for abortion. As a result, the operation is often done in unsafe conditions. Rada Gungaloo reminds us that, ?the ministry of Health and Quality of Life recorded 3,300 women admitted to public hospitals because of complications following abortions in 2002.?